Prostate cancer decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the appeals because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of bladder cancer is granted. The initial compensable rating claim for prostate cancer residuals is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the earlier effective date for service connection and SMC based on housebound status was reversed due to clear and unmistakable error, resulting in no award of past-due benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer, which is presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied service connection for kidney disease, to include cancer, and prostate cancer due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any exposure to chemicals. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical opinions that provided a clear rationale connecting his current disabilities to his military service.

The reduction in the disability rating for prostate cancer status post prostatectomy from 100 percent to 40 percent, effective October 1, 2016, was proper. The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer are currently evaluated at a 40 percent rating since October 1, 2016.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service, and his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is found to be related to his service-connected inguinal hernia. Both claims are granted.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for residuals of prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction is denied. The current uniform evaluations are appropriate as the disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's prostate cancer has reoccurred or metastasized, warranting a 100% rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents during his time at Korat Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand qualifies him for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer due to exposure to toxins at Camp Pendleton, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether this condition is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or ionizing radiation during service, and the disease did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer residuals and coronary artery disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for prostate cancer and breathing disorder (COPD). The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and cause of death. The Board found that the Veteran's bladder cancer was not related to his active duty service, including presumed herbicide exposure, nor was it proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer. The Board also determined that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions played a role in his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, prostate cancer residuals, erectile dysfunction, ischemic heart disease, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder. The Board also found that hypertension is secondary to diabetes and grants service connection for this condition based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy was denied, and his TDIU prior to April 9, 2018, was also denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating. The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ (erectile dysfunction).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's prostate disorder and his service. The Veteran needs to provide information about any non-VA providers who treated him for prostate complaints since service, and an addendum opinion is needed from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and a residual scar associated with prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined disability rating of 70 percent.